Changeable decorative fabric



1948- ATHA-LANE JOYCE 2,457,309

CHANGEAELE DECORATIVE FABRIC Filed Aug. 2a, 1946 FIG. .3 9

FIG. 4 0 9 FIG. 5

FIG. 6

FIG 2 mmvroa. ATHA-LANE JOYCE Patented Dec. 28, 1948 NITED sures PATENT OFFICE 2,457,309 cnANoLE naoonarrvn FABRIC lithe-Lane Joyce, asliington, iii. 6. Application August 23, 1946, Serial No. 692,548-

(Gl. 22'l8) 3 Clea i This invention relates to fabrics, and more particularly to the construction of material susceptible of wide use in the production of various and sundry articles, including clothing, draperies,

and various and sundry fabrics and materials.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple, inexpensive, and attractive. construction of material, by means of which a change in appearance can be accomplished, including color and design, or both.

Briefly stated, the invention comprises a fabric having portions of difierent colors, or black and white, which may be manipulated to provide a plurality of effects. These effects may be all of one color or shade, all of another color or shade, or any desired combinationof colors or shades.

Specifically the invention contemplates a double fabric, white on one side, black on the other, with geometrically shaped portions, parts of which may be reversed to provide the different effects.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following speciflcation taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view, illustrating one application of the invention;

Fig. 2, a detail with flaps raised, showing the construction and manner of operation; and

Figs. 3, 4, and 6, details illustrating the different designs.

Referring to the drawings, for purposes of illustration, fabric is employed to provide clothing, for example, a bathing suit consisting of trunks l0 and halter ll shown applied to portions of a human figure. These articles may have one or more decorative portions I! or may be formed entirely of the material of such portions in accordance with the present invention. Further. instead of an article of clothing the invention may be utilized merely to produce'a fabric.

With continued reference to the drawings, a decorative portion or panelsuch as that shown at l2 in Fig. 1 is indicated generally at l3 in Fig. 2, and in this instance consists of four diamondshaped units, each of which may be manipulated in a manner to be described to effect a change in the design or color of the panel. It is of course understood that any desired number of diamond shaped units may be utilized to make up a decorative panel, a complete article of clothing or an entire piece of fabric may be made up of these diamond shaped units.

Each of the diamond shaped units consists of two identical pieces of fabric l4 and i5, the piece it being one color such as black, and thepiece i5 being another color such as white. These two pieces of fabric are laid together back to back with the points thereof coinciding as shown at it. Portions of the edges of the two piecesof fabric are then secured together by stitching, adhesive, or the like from the point Hi to the points ll, the remaining edges being left free. This constructionpermits a portion I8 of each diamond to be folded in either direction about a line l9 between the points I! to expose either side of the portion l8.

In assembling the diamond shaped units to form a decorative panel or a piece'of fabric the portion of the piece 15 which is not secured to piece I4 is secured by stitchin or. the like to a corresponding piece M of another diamond, it being noted that the individual diamond shaped units are secured together by pieces which are of a single thickness and that the double thickness portions of the diamond are free to fold about the line is as described above.

Fastening means in the form of buttons, snaps or the like 20 are provided at appropriate locations for cooperation with appropriate complementary fastening means such as loops 2|, secured to the points of the foldable portions I8.

In operation the foldable portions iii are moved to the desired position and the loops 2| engaged with the corresponding fastening means 20 to secure the portions It in such position. The parts remain in this relationship until it is desired to change the color or design of the fabric when one or more of the portions l8 may be moved to its opposite position by releasing the fastening means 20 and 2| and re-engaging the fastening means in the new position.

It is thus seen that any combination of designs or colors within the limitsof the colored fabrics employed may be obtained by merely fastening the foldable portions It as described above.

Figs. 3 to 6 show the various combinations which may be obtained when merely two colored fabrics are used, Fig. 3 showing a design in which the upper and lower diamonds are white and in which the other two diamonds are black. Fig. 4 shows a design in which the upper and lower diamonds are black and in which the other two diamonds are white. Fig. 5 shows a design which presents anall black appearance and Fig. 6 a design in which the appearance is all white.

It is therefore apparent from the above description that by the use of this invention the appearance of a complete garment may be changed in a relatively short time to either alter the design such as drapes and or the color thereof or that whole pieces of fabric the like could be changed in the same manner. Fabric in accordance with this invention is comparatively cheap and easy to manufacture and its use might .well solve the problem represented by the requirements of society that appropriate gowns and the like be used for diflerent occasions in that use of this-invention would make possible what might be termed an all purpose gown, the appearance or design of which could 'be changed to fit various occav sions.

It will be obvious that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but onl as indicated in the appended claims.

What isclaimed is: t

l. A fabriccomprising at least four individua units secured together, each of said units comprising two pieces of cloth of the same size and shape and different color, said two pieces of cloth being secured together along their edge: over a portion of the length thereof and having their remaining portions oppositely disposed, the resulting double thickness portion being foldable from one extreme position to another along a line connecting the terminations of the secured portions, the single thickness portions of the unit being secured to an adjacent single thickness portion of a corresponding unit of the same size and shape, at least four of these units being secured together to produce a decorative panel or piece of fabric of the desired size and shape, fastening means secured on the fabric, cooperative fastening means secured to the foldable portion of each unit, said foldable portion being secured in either one or the other extreme position by said fastening means whereby upon such movement and fastening the appearance of the fabric is materially changed as by design, color or both.

2. A fabric comprising more than two individual units secured together, each of said units comprising two and shape and different color, said two pieces of cloth being secured together along their edges over a portion of the length thereof and having their remaining portions oppositely disposed, the resulting double thickness portion being foldable to'those skilled in the art pieces of cloth oi the same size of fabric of the desired ing means whereby upon from one extreme position to another along a line connecting the terminations of the secured portions, the single thickness portions of the unit being secured to an adjacent single thickness portion ofa corresponding unit of the same size and shape. more than secured together to produce a decorative piece size and shape, fastening means secured on the fabric, cooperative fastening means secured to the foldable portion of each unit, said foldable portion being secured in either one or the other extreme position by said fastensuch movement and fastening the appearance of the fabric is materially changed as by design, color or both.

3. A fabric comprising a plurality of individual units consisting of two pieces ferently colored surfaces, each piece of cloth being of equilateral exterior conformation foldable along a longitudinal median line into two identical portions, said two pieces of cloth having the edges of one of its foldable portions secured to the corresponding edges of the other piece, the unsecured portions of the two pieces of cloth when extended in the same plane having the same contour as-each of the pieces in its unfolded state, the resulting double thickness portion being foldable along the longitudinal median line of the unit from one extreme position to another, the single thickness portion of each unit being secured to the single thickness portion of an adjacent unit to produce a continuous piece of fabric, fastening means secured on the fabric, cooperative fastening means secfured to the foldable portion of each unit, said foldable portion being secured in either one or the other extreme position by said fastening means whereby upon such movement and fastening of the foldable portions of the units the appearance of the fabric is materially changed as by design, color or both.

- ATHA-LANE JOYCE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

NITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 601,434 Davis Mar. 29, 1898 1,022,190 Goldberg Apr. 2, 1912 2,064,399

Abrams Dec. 15, 1936 two .of these units being of cloth having dif- 

